(HARDIN, Ky.) — Three New Covenant Christian Academy cross country runners have been named to the Kentucky Track and Cross Country Coaches Association’s all-area teams, the school announced recently.
Sophomore Shadow Smith earned a spot on the All-Area 1 second team, while seventh-graders Graham Lawrence and JD Thomas also received recognition. Lawrence was named to the all-area first team for both the 4K and 3K distances, and Thomas made the all-area second team for the 3K.
“These recognitions are well deserved and reflect their performance at races during the season,” said Megan Thomas, one of the program’s founding coaches. “These athletes were able to race well because of the many early summer morning and hot afternoon miles they ran.”
Thomas praised the dedication of all three runners, noting she has coached Smith since he was in third grade.
“He is a gifted athlete with so much potential, and I have been blessed to be able to coach him all these years,” Thomas said. “Graham Lawrence and JD Thomas are also gifted, and I am looking forward to seeing how they develop as runners as they grow.”
The cross country program was established in 2017 by Thomas, Tiffany Stanger, and Brandy Lawrence, making it NCCA’s first athletic program. This past season, Josh Revell and Jeremiah Grogan joined the coaching staff, leading the high school and middle school boys’ teams, respectively.
KTCCCA Area 1 includes schools from 18 counties across western Kentucky, including Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Christian, Henderson, Hopkins, Marshall, and McCracken counties, among others.
Marshall County boys cross country coach Cory Westerfield, who announced the teams, said the selections were compiled by Area 1 high school and middle school representatives and reviewed by a third party. The middle school list was modified and expanded this year to account for sixth through eighth grade runners competing at varying distances.
New Covenant competes in the Kentucky Christian Athletic Association but participates in area meets throughout the season. The school opened for the 2010-11 school year and offers preschool through high school education with a Christ-centered, biblically-based curriculum.
New Covenant is located at 218 College St. in Hardin. More information is available at www.nccaky.org.
